What's Blooming in Paradise: Ti Plant

November 9, 2012

First impression: Tiny red to lavender to white flowers blooming from stiff stems at the top of a very dramatic plant. Its leaves are shades of magenta, pink and greens. The silhouette reminds me of a dwarf banana shape. These unusual tropical shades really brighten up the garden even with no flowers in bloom. Zoom in for the close up, lots of sparkle in our garden with its shades of lights and darks. You can see it twinkling around every corner at the Botanical Gardens of the Sanibel Moorings.

Upon further investigation: Ti plant is pronounced "TEA" and hails from The Pacific Island areas. Not known for its flowers which are pretty but tiny and erratic, the leaves are the stars. There are several color combinations to choose from, and more in the making. The color combos are different hues of greens, reds, and whites. Some leaves are even striped! LOL. Our star is appreciated for its evergreen variegated foliage and doesn't readily shed its leaves. It does need to be cleaned at least 3-4 times a year. To accomplish this you pull off the lower older leaves. Pull gently till you get the hang of it, sometimes supporting the trunk so as not to break the super skinny trunk. The newest leaves are at the top and are arranged in a whorl on the trunk. I have my Ti-s in the partial sun to shady areas. They will look washed out and faded in full sun. Being tall and slender, they become one of the you can fit them anywhere stars in our garden. They look great as a specimen or grouped together. Made for our tropical climate, easy care, and drought tolerant. Pruning is simple you cut any tall ones on the cane. The cane then will sprout the colorful leaves at the cut site. You decide the height; maximum height can be 10 feet tall. The slender trunks can be pruned solo or left multi trunked. I routinely shape and corralled the limbs because, this plant can get leggy. Like many plants of the Cordyline family, the cut stems can be stripped of the bottom leaves and placed in a pot for rooting or directly in the soil. I am always in the market for free plants! You will enjoy the easy care and little attention needed for this plant to flourish. Call up your friends from New Guinea, they will tell you all the useful things Ti plants can be utilized for. They are great for costumes, home decorating, and head dresses. They are a must have for wrapping food in for open fire feasts. Interesting factsnow we know!